Hot Tub Time

While it might be too chilly for your swimming pool, it is the perfect weather for your hot tub! Here are some simple steps to get your hot tub up and running.

Clear it off! When you’re ready to open up your hot tub, clear off all water and debris from the cover and clean it with a cover safe solution. Let it dry, and then remove it.

Insert a clean cartridge or clean the old one (if it’s a reusable cartridge) and raise the water level to the recommended level for your hot tub (not sure where that is? Give us a call and we can help you out!).

Once the correct level has been reached, start up the pump and filter. Allow it to run while you check for leaks in the pump and plumbing. If there are no leaks, continue to let the pump run for AT LEAST an hour. If you do see leaks, mark them, turn the pump off, and make repairs.

After running your pump for at least an hour, use a sequestering agent or metal remover to make sure they are neutralized before chemicals are adjusted.

Allow the metal remover to circulate for at least 4-6 hours, then take a water sample from approximately a foot down to be tested. Most common test samples for a spa include chlorine/bromine, pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness. If you aren’t sure what to check for, we would love to help you out.

Once you receive the water results, begin adjusting the chemicals. Be sure you follow manufacturer’s instructions to make sure that your chemicals are being added properly.

After you adjust the calcium, it’s best to wait 12 hours before adjusting the pH or alkalinity. If both levels are low, adjust alkalinity first because this will increase the pH as well usually.

After adjusting pH and alkalinity, you are ready to add your sanitizer. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your sanitizer.

Last but not least, it’s time to shock the water. Whether you are using a chlorine or bromine, an oxidizing shock should be used before or after a heavy bather load or at least once a week to eliminate odors and organic build-up in spa water.